Aircraft including engine mounting frame for same



Feb. 9', 1932. l. 1. SIKORSKY 1,844,608

AIRCRAFT INCLUDING ENGINE MOUNTING FRAME FOR SAME 4 Original Filed June'7, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Feb. 9, l. SIKQRSKYI I AIRCRAFTINCLUDING ENGINE MOUNTING FRAME FOR SAME Original Filed Ju'ne 7, 1929 6Sheets-Sheet 2 mmim IN NTOR BY ia ATTORNEY Feb. 9; 1932. .1. l; SIKORSKY1,844,608

AIRCRAFT INCLUDING ENGINE MOUNTING FRANE FOR SANE Original Filed June 7,1929 6 sheets-sheet s [QUE/.5) 20/226} 1 NVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 9, L 5RSK'Y AIRCRAFT INCLUDING ENGINE MOUNTING FRAME FOR SAME Original FiledJune '7, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F g-9 ".23. l lllmllllllllllllipk fi 3ATTORNEY Feb. 9, 1932. 1 1 SIKORSKY 1,844,608

led June 7, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 i If "W N /l Patented, Feb. 9, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGOR I. BIKOBSKY, OI COLIiEGE POINT, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR TO SIKOBSKY AVIATION CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON,DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AIRCRAFT INCLUDING ENGINE MOUNTINGFRAME FOR SAME Original application. ma June 7, im, Serial 1829. SerialNo. 385,217.

The present invention relates to improvements in amphibians andparticularly to means for supporting the engine or englnes on suchcraft.

The present application is a division of an earlier filed case, Serial#369,113, filed June 7, 1929, and for purposes of disclosin theinvention, the embodiment hereina er described has' been shown asapplied to a multi- -motor amphibian.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a multi-motor amphibian having an embodimentof the present invention applied thereto. V

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation.

Figure 4 is a plan View, on an enlarged scale, of one of the enginesupporting frames detached.

Figure 5 is an elevation of such frame from the left hand side.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the opposite side of the engine supportingframe.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of said frame.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the frame shown in Figures 4 to 7.

Figure 9 is a detail section, substantially on the line 99 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a section substantially on the line 11-11'of Figure 5.

Figure 12 is a detail section, substantially on the line 1212 of Figure6.

Figure 13 is a detail section, substantially on the line 1313 of Figure5.

Figure 14 illustrates in end elevation and perspective one element ofthe box like member at the rear end of theengine supporting frame.

Figures 15 and 16 are perspective views of two other elements of saidbox like member.

Figure 17 is an end elevation of said box like member at the rear end ofthe engine supporting frame. re 18 is a' side elevation of said box likemem er.

tom and side walls of said box like member. Figure 21 is a plan of theblank from which the bottom and side walls of said box like member arepreferably formed.

No. 369,113. Divided and this application filed August 12,

on a larger scale, portions only of the plane frame being shown.

Figure 23 is a plan of parts shown in view 22.

Figure 24 is a vertical sectional view through the center section of themain plane showing the engine supporting frame and the suspenslon meanstherefor in elevation.

Referring to the drawings in the several views of which correspondingparts are designated by the same reference characters, designates thebody-boat of the amphibian which is shown as being supported beneath amain plane comprising right and left wings 101 and 102, respectively,and a center section 103.

Lower wings 104 and 105 project laterally friom the body-boat beneaththe upper or main ane. a p The two sets of planes are suitably supportedby means of interplane struts, certain of which are indicated at 106,107, 108 and 109. Additional struts .are interposed between the mainplane and the body-boat, and struts 112 and 113 connect the lower wings104, 105, respectively, with the body-boat, While struts 114 and 115 areinterposed between the upper wings and the rear portionofthe body-boat.Outriggers 116 and 117 project rearwardly from the center section 103 ofthe main plane, and support at their rear ends an empennage assemblydesignated as awhole by. the reference character 118'. The rear portionsof the i Outriggers are shown as being su ported from the rear extremityof the bodyoat by struts 120.

The amphibian illustrated is provided with two motors or engines 146,147 which are supported by meansthat will now be more particularlydescribed.

As shown, the motors or engines are supported beneath the centersection103 of the main plane. Such section of the main plane includes (seeFigure 24) front and rear spars 155, 156 connected by suitablecompression members 158. The front spar 156 comprises a pair ofvertically spaced angle iron members 164, 165 which are connected bysuitable truss members and reinforcedabove each motor or enginesupported frame by vertically extending plates 173 and members'174, 175.3 The rear spar is of somewhat similar construction including verticallyspaced angle iron members 190, 191 connected by suitable truss membersand reinforced above each engine supporting frame by verticallyextending plates 198.

The front and rear spar members, above each reinforced section fromwhich the engine supporting frames are suspended, are shown as providedwith apertured cable attachment members 184, 208 to which cables may beattached when the machine is to be hoisted by external means.

As shown the amphibian selected for purposes of illustration is providedwith two engines but, as these are duplicates only, one suspension meansis hereinafter specifically described.

v The engine supporting frame per se, is of substantially pyramidal formwith its reduced end directed toward the rear, and is formed of fourmain angle bars 281, 282, 283 and 284. The divergent ends of said frameare suitably connected to a ring 286 in which the motor is adapted to bedirectly sup ported.

This ring may be in the nature of a single flanged forging, or formed ofan L-bar bent into a circle, and having its abutting ends weldedtogether. Such ring is adapted to have a radial motor bolted directlythereto, although it may be employed for supporting a rotary motor.

The main bars 281, 282, 283 and 284 of the engine support are connectedand braced by transversely extending angle bars 287, and the connectionsbetween said bars may be reinforced'by bracing plates 288. The members281, 282-of theengine support are also shown as being connected by aplate 289 hav- 1ng an aperture 289 formed therein to receive and guide arod forming part of the control mechanism of the machine.

Supported by the members 282 and 283 of the engine support is a collar290 which serves as a support for a conduit forming a portlon of alanding wheel control, such as has been particularly described andclaimed in my copending application Serial No. 354,522, filed April 12,1929.

The members 282 and 283 of the pyramidal frame support, near theirforward ends, a plurality of bracket arms which are connected by a plate291 carrying a bushing orbearing 292 for the starting crank of aninertia starting mechanism.

Arms 292, 294 depend from opposite sidese of the engine support frameand at their lower ends have bearings 295 and 296 adapted to receive ashaft upon which is mounted certain engine control instrumentalities.

An additonal arm 297 depending from said frame is provided at its lowerend with a bracket 298- adapted to support a gasoline strainer.

The rear, converging, ends of the bars 281 to 284, are secured in a boxlike member 299. Preferably, the bottom and side walls of this memberare formed from a single blank 300 (Fig. 20) initially bent to the formshown in Fig. 22. The top of the box 299 is formed by a plate 301 havingears-302 and 303 which are connected by welding to similar ears 304 and-305 provided at the terminals of the plate or strip 300.

As shown in the drawings, the sides of this box like member diverge incorrespondence with the lines of the frame bars 281 to 284, theconvergent edges being united by a perforated plate 306 welded thereto.

To the plate 301, intermediate the ears 304, 305 thereon, is arranged anupright perforated ear 307 formed by angle brackets 308 and 309 whichare welded to plate 301. A pipe line support 300 is secured to thebottom wall of the box 299. The frame bars 281. to 284 are preferablyconnected to the box 299 by riveting and, as shown, the box is arrangedso that the ears thereon are directed upward.

The ring 286 of the engine supporting frame is provided with radiallyextending eye bolts 310, 311, 312 and 313. To the bolts 310 and 313 areconnected the lower ends of struts 314 and 315, the upper ends of whichare connected to eye bolts 181 and 182 depending from the front sparmember of the center section of the main plane.

To the eye bolts 311 and 312 are connected the lower ends of struts 316,317, the upper ends of which are secured to the front spar 'member ofthe center section of the main plane.

The lower ends of struts 314 to 317 inclusive project forwardly of saidfront spar member so that the engine will be disposed somewhat inadvance of the main plane, the engine supporting frameextending bothforgvard and rearward of said front spar mem- It will also be noted thatthe said suspension members connected with ring 286 when viewed from thefront or' rear, as in Fig. 22, are arranged in substantially the form ofa W, and that their upper ends are all secured to the front spar memberof the center section of themain plane'at a specially reinforced sectionof said spar.

Struts 319, 320 connect the ears 302304 and 303305 of the box-likemember 299 at the rear of the engine supporting frame with ye boltS 181,182 of the front spar member of the center section of the main plane toretain the motor supporting frame in a position in which its axisextends substantially parallel to the axis of the body-boat.

5 The lug formed by the ears 307, 308 and 309 of the box-like member 299at the rear end of the engine support is connected by a member 321 withan anchor member 206 provided on the rear spar member of the centersection of the main plane.

By the arrangement described, the supporting members for the enginemounting are thus disposed in substantially N formation when viewed fromthe side as in Fig. 24. The suspension system thus specificallydescribed, as a whole, gives the greatest possible stability againstlateral, as well as fore and aft, distortive forces.-

WVhile I have described and illustrated a brief embodiment of theinvention, it is to be 7 understood that except as determined by theappended claims, the invention is not to be limited to the exact detailsshown or described, as there can,-of course, be considerablemodification without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. In an amphibian, a motor support comprising a substantially pyramidalframe disposed on a horizontal axis, and means for securing a motor tothe large end of said frame.

2. In an amphibian, a horizontally disposed substantially pyramidalframe including angle bars defining the lateral outlines of the frame,and a motor supporting member fixedto the divergent ends of said bars.

In an amphibian, a horizontally disposed substantially pyramidal frameincluding angle bars defining the lateral outlines of the frame,cross-members joining the bars, and a motor supporting frame fixed tothe divergent ends of said bars 4. In an amphibian, a horizontallydisposed substantially pyramidal frame including angle bars defining thelateral outlines of the frame, cross-members oining the bars, and amotor supporting ring fixed to the divergent ends of said bars,

5. In an amphibian, a motor support comprising a plurality of barsarranged to'define a substantially pyramidal frame, a motor supportingring secured to the divergent ends of the bars, and a box in which therear ends of the bars are secured.

6. In an amphibian, a motor supportcomprising a plurality of barsarranged to define a substantially pyramidal frame, a motor supportingring secured to the divergent ends of the bars, a box in which the rearends of 1 the bars are secured, and suspension members secured to saidring and to said box.

7. In an amphibian, a horizontal motor supporting frame includinglongitudinal frame members in substantially pyramidal formation, a ringfixed to the divergent ends of said frame members, a plane above saidframe and including front and rear spars, said frame projecting"forwardly and rearwardly of the front spar, "suspension membersconnecting said ring at points circumferenti'ally spaced thereon withsaid front spar at'spaced points on the latter, and means connecting therear end of said frame with said rear spar.

8. In an amphibian, a horizontal motor supporting frame includinglongitudinal frame members in substantially pyramidal formation, a ringfixed to the divergent ends of said frame members, a plane above saidframe and including front and rear spars, said frame projectingforwardly and rearwardly of the front spar, suspension membersconnecting said ring at points circumferentially spaced thereon withsaid spar at thereon, and means connecting the rear end of said framewith said rear spar.

9. In an amphibian, a horizontal motor supporting frame includinglongitudinal frame members in substantially pyramidal formation, a ringfixed to the divergent ends of said frame members, a plane above saidframe and including front and rear spars, said frame projectingforwardly and rearwardly of the front spar, suspension membersconnecting said ring at points circumferenti ally spaced thereon 'withthe front spar at spaced points along the latter, suspension membersconnecting said ring at circumferentially spaced joints with the frontspar at a point midway between the first-mentioned connection pointsthereon, and means connecting the rear end of said frame with said rearspar.

10. In an amphibian, a horizontal motor supporting frame includinglongitudinal frame members in substantially pyramidal formation, a ringfixed to the divergent ends of said frame members, a plane above saidframe and including front and rear spars, said frame projectingforwardly and rearwardly of the front spar, suspension membersconnecting said ring at points circumpoints thereon, and meansconnecting the rear end of said frame with said rear spar.

Signed at College Point, Long Island, in the county of Queens and Stateof New York, this 24th day of June, A. D. 1929.

4 IGOR) I. SIKORSKY.

